The Silver Ferns' selectors have taken a massive punt in naming uncapped shooter Malia Paseka in the World Cup team at the expense of experienced star Cathrine Latu.
The axing of Latu is one of several big talking points of the 12-strong team for the Sydney tournament named yesterday.
Veteran midcourters Liana Leota and Joline Henry also missed out on selection.
Latu, who served a four-year stand-down from international netball in order to be able to represent New Zealand at a World Cup, having played for Samoa as a youngster, is consistently the most accurate shooter in the ANZ Championship, but her volume and track record against Australian defenders was a big concern for the selectors.
Given the Ferns' poor run of form against Australia over the past two years, the selectors recognised they needed to try something new, and 20-year-old Paseka offered more athleticism and versatility.
Paseka was tipped as a player for the future after an eye-catching display for the NZ Under-21 side in its win over Australia in the final of the World Youth Cup in 2013.
Later that year she was named as one of four training partners to accompany the Silver Ferns on their tour of England and Scotland, but she is yet to make her senior international debut.
Latu will turn out for the NZ A team in warm-up matches against visiting international sides in the lead-up to the World Cup and will be stand-by option should injury strike in the shooting circle before the tournament starts.
In a tight race for midcourt positions, Steel midcourter Shannon Francois earned the nod ahead of Leota and Camilla Lees, while Henry loses the wing defence spot to Kayla Cullen.
Silver Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu said while it was a tough call to leave some big names out of the team, the selectors needed to pick in-form players.
''We've had some tough contesting for places over the past few days.
''It was imperative that we selected on form, and it's important to have versatile playing combinations and this group provides that. There is no doubt this has been the toughest selection process in the last four years but that is what you expect in a World Cup year,'' Taumaunu said.
Inspirational captain Casey Kopua has fulfilled her ambition of earning her place in the team after a lengthy rehabilitation following a serious knee injury sustained last October, while senior players Leana de Bruin, Laura Langman, Maria Tutaia and Katrina Grant also return from the team that lost the 2011 World Cup final to Australia.
It will be the first World Cup for Paseka, Cullen, Phoenix Karaka, Bailey Mes, Grace Rasmussen and Shannon Francois. Only Jodi Brown and de Bruin have tasted Netball World Cup success, in Jamaica in 2003.
The Silver Ferns will play three tests in the lead-up to the World Cup, hosting Fiji and South Africa later this month.
The Netball World Cup will be held at Sydney Olympic Park from August 7 to 16.
- Dana Johannsen
New Zealand netball
The teams
Silver Ferns: Jodi Brown (Central), Kayla Cullen (Northern), Leana de Bruin (WBOP), Shannon Francois (South), Katrina Grant (Central), Phoenix Karaka (South), Casey Kopua (WBOP), Laura Langman (Northern), Bailey Mes (Mainland), Malia Paseka (WBOP), Grace Rasmussen (WBOP), Maria Tutaia (Northern).
New Zealand A: Gina Crampton (South), Temalisi Fakahokotau (Northern), Ellen Halpenny (WBOP), Cathrine Latu (Northern), Camilla Lees (Northern), Jamie-Lee Price (WBOP), Storm Purvis (South), Te Paea Selby-Rickit (South), Samantha Sinclair (WBOP), Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick (Northern), Zoe Walker (Mainland), Ameliaranne Wells (Central).
